Make Your Character Stand Out

I‘ve been playing roleplaying games for over 3 decades - since I was in my early teenage years. The first character I created was as simple as they get, based on Gimli from Lord of the Rings, a dwarven fighter armed with a battleaxe who hated goblins and orcs. That was all there was to him, but nevertheless, I enjoyed playing this character. After all, it was all I needed at the time, and the games we played were more hack-n-slash than anything else. As I have grown older my needs have changed, and I have learned that there can be more to creating a character: both making it fun to play and to engage with for the other players’ characters.

I am not saying that there‘s something wrong with the simple method I used when first starting to play: just that my needs and ideas have changed, not only as a player, but also as a game master. I prefer to have player characters in my games that are rich, colorful, and complex, making the game come to life as they engage with one another and the NPCs. Therefore, I ask my players to answer a few questions about their characters when creating their backstories, in the hope that it will not only help me understand what their ambitions for their characters are but also how I can incorporate their characters more deeply into the narrative, ensuring that they get their moment in the limelight, and feel invested in the story.

So, here are a few ideas and thoughts on how to write a backstory for your character that is both compelling and interesting but leaves enough room for the game master to play with and for you to let your character grow within the narrative.

Whether you like to start by setting down the numbers or starting with the backstory, I find it most helpful to start by asking myself why my character is where they are today, what drives them on, and what goals they have. Are they seeking revenge for a wrong done to them or their family? Perhaps they have a thirst for knowledge, always looking to uncover hidden truths about the world or themselves. Maybe their goal is more altruistic, like protecting a loved one or their homeland from imminent danger. Defining your character’s primary goals helps ground their actions and decisions in the game.

A character without a goal or a drive has, really, no reason to go out to be an adventurer, hero, or investigator. Even a character whose adventuring life has been forced upon, for example, if the Romans killed their parents and they were left to fend for themselves, has a reason to keep on adventuring, uncovering hidden truths, or fighting the injustice brought upon them. This reason becomes your initial goal or drive, albeit it might, and probably will, change as the narrative progresses.

Next, consider their relationships. Relationships can define much of a character's outlook and behavior. Reflect on their family – are they close to their parents, or is there a rift that needs mending? Do they have siblings, and if so, what is the nature of their bond? Friends and mentors also play a crucial role. Consider a mentor who might have guided them in their early years, teaching them essential skills and values. Romantic relationships can add another layer of depth – whether it’s a lost love, a current partner, or someone they secretly admire from afar.

This is also important when forming the party in session 0. Why is your character friends with the other player characters? How do they know each other? Is the relationship between them one of deep friendship, are they childhood sweethearts, or is the relationship strained or even forced upon them where they know little of one another?

These simple questions are one of the reasons why session 0 is so important. By deciding this together, the players know before the game starts what their characters know about each other, which can lead to great role-playing opportunities. Do all the player characters know your character's little secret and help you ensure that no one else does, or does the reveal come as a surprise to them?

Obligations are another critical aspect. These could stem from familial duties, such as taking over a family business or protecting a younger sibling. They could have taken a vow or oath, binding them to a cause or organization. Maybe they owe a debt, financial or otherwise, that hangs over them, influencing their actions and decisions. Obligations can also include promises made to friends or communities, ensuring that your character remains connected to the world and has stakes in its well-being.

This is one of my favorite parts of character creation as a game master. If the player characters have obligations or bonds, I can use these as leverage to move the narrative forward. All characters have some obligation as a part of their goal or drive, but by adding this layer specifically, you ensure that the game master has a chance to put your character on the spot, between a rock and a hard place, where they face difficult choices. This enriches and makes the narrative often all the more interesting and gets the players engaging deeply with each other, arguing back and forth before coming to a decision. To me, that is what makes a great roleplaying game.

This is where you add meat to the bones of the backstory. All the details as to why your character has the goals they have, the secrets, or obligations.

When it comes to reasons why your character acts the way they do, delve into their past experiences. What pivotal events shaped their personality and worldview? A traumatic event might have instilled a fear or hatred of certain creatures or types of magic. A moment of kindness might have inspired them always to help those in need. Consider their upbringing – was it a life of luxury, poverty, or something in between? Each experience contributes to the complexity of your character’s motivations and reactions.

Although this is one of the most fun parts of writing a backstory, and it is easy to get carried away, writing page after page - but it is also important to pace oneself. You need to leave room for the game master to fill in and tie in their own narrative, not to mention to leave room for your character to grow and learn.

Finally, think about their current situation. Where are they at the start of the game? What immediate challenges or opportunities are they facing? This sets the stage for their introduction to the campaign and provides a natural entry point for interactions with other characters and the game world.

This is perhaps the most important part of creating a character. Every other participant in the game needs to know why your character is there, just as you need to know why their characters are where they are in order to form relationships with them. Perhaps you were all there because a patron brought you all together, or perhaps you are all doing time in jail at the same time.

Your player character's current situation should always be worked out with your game master since they might have an opinion or ideas for you.

By weaving together goals, relationships, obligations, and formative experiences, you create a real and dynamic character. Each aspect of their backstory should inform their actions and decisions, making your roleplaying experience more immersive and enjoyable. Embrace the depth and let your character’s story unfold naturally within the game’s world.

When every player brings these elements to the table through their characters, I have found that the gaming experience becomes more engaging and fun. You have all the more reasons to engage in in-character conversation, debate tactics, and methods, uncover little secrets about each other, and find reasons to be together and stick up for one another.

Each player character‘s persona becomes vivid and easy to remember because each will have something to relate to. Whether the journalist‘s fear of spiders, the barbarian‘s quest for finding their father, or the bounty hunter‘s cold and calculating approach to every problem, the player characters become more than numbers or a few lucky dice rolls.

Of course, these above are just a few simple ideas that can easily make your character stand out. It’s all about the questions, the drive and the group. Just remember that whatever makes your game fun is right, after all, playing roleplaying games is all about having fun.